Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES Second Community Meeting

Welcome January 10, 2007

Organized by: Office of Neighborhood Services Greater Forest Hills Area Task Force Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Boston Redevelopment Authority Boston Transportation Department Boston Parks and Recreation Department Department of Conservation and Recreation

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS SECOND COMMUNITY MEETING - AGENDA IMPROVEMENT 1. Introduction, Brief Overview on Process and Report On INITIATIVES October Community Meeting

Agenda 2. Best Planning Practices Examples Successful character, building, transportation and infrastructure examples

3. Local Existing Conditions Analysis Community Character, Land Use & Design, Transportation & Streetscape

4. Workshop Breakout Sessions ƒ Community Vision - review and refine statement ƒ Site specific Use & Design ideas ƒ Transportation & Streetscape improvement ideas

5. Group Reporting, Summaries, Follow up activities and Responsibilities

Up Coming Meetings th CITY OF BOSTON Walking Tour of Forest Hills – Saturday, January 20 , 9 AM, meet in front of Thomas M. Menino, Java Jo on Hyde Park Ave. We will tour the focus areas and six study sites. Mayor Boston FOREST COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS OVERVIEW HILLS IMPROVEMENT PHASE I INITIATIVES ƒ Community Meeting 1 – Introduction / Community Vision October 21, 2006 Process ƒ Community Meeting 2 – Use, Design, Transportation & Streetscape: Best Practices & Ideas January 2007 ƒ Community Meeting 3 – Use, Design, Transportation & Streetscape: Preliminary Recommendations March 2007 ƒ Community Meeting 4 – Use, Design, Transportation & Streetscape: Final Recommendations March 2007 PHASE II ƒ Community Meeting 5 – Focus on Comprehensive Transportation Planning April 2007 ƒ Final Community Meeting – Finalize Comprehensive Transportation Plan CITY OF BOSTON June 2007 Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST TRANSPORTATION HILLS ISSUES IMPROVEMENT Pedestrian Safety Unregulated INITIATIVES ƒ Bicycle Safety ƒ Traffic Flow through 30 Minute Parking Transportation & between Selected Analysis Map Bus Stop Intersections #37,38,39 ƒ Curbside & Off- P P Cab Stand Street Parking 15 Minute Parking P ƒ Public Transportation & P P Bicycle Access 2 Hour Parking

Transportation Consultant No Stopping P RFP & Contracting ƒ Available Jan. 3, 2007 JP Resident Parking ƒ Responses due Feb. 2, 2007 ƒ Selection & Approval Feb. 13, 2007

Bus Stop # 32

Unregulated Proposed Focus Area CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES 127 Attendees worked on ideas for a shared October ƒ Community Vision Community Meeting ƒ Identified Focus Areas Summary ƒ Identified Study Sites

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS EMERGING COMMUNITY VISION IMPROVEMENT Intent: While still emerging… these shared principles and INITIATIVES examples of ideal development… and a starting point for future conversations… and be treated as a living document. October Community Emerging Principles: Meeting Based on community input to date, the FHII group envisions Summary growth that supports the neighborhood in four key ways:

Improved traffic patterns: ƒ Less (not more) automotive traffic into & through Forest Hills. ƒ Smoother traffic flow for cars, pedestrians, and bicycles. ƒ Promote pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit use, with sufficient parking to allow retail stores to flourish. Vibrant mixed use district: ƒ Not only a transit hub, but for local retail and community usage. ƒ Vibrancy; as in promoting usage primarily by neighborhood residents (rather than primarily by commuters).

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS EMERGING COMMUNITY VISION IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES Emerging Principles - continued

October Community Orientation: Community ƒ Uses / places that promote community ownership & interaction, Meeting such as public markets, art space, locally owned retail. Summary ƒ Retail, commercial, & housing that support continued diversity (age, socioeconomic, and race and ethnicity) will be prioritized.

“Green Building / Sustainable” Development: ƒ Enhance access to the neighborhood’s existing green assets (e.g., Arboretum, Southwest Corridor, Franklin Park, Cemetery). ƒ Build upon green building / sustainable development principles (e.g., energy efficient, transit-oriented, neighborhood-scaled).

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS FOCUS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES AREAS

October Community Meeting Summary

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS STUDY IMPROVEMENT SITES INITIATIVES Six Sites: October ƒ MBTA Parcel U Community ƒ MBTA Parcel V Meeting ƒ MBTA Parcel W Summary ƒ MBTA Parcel Parking Lot (station) ƒ Private Parking Lot ƒ Arborway Yard Parcel

Potential Air-rights / Right of Way (ROW): ROW - 1 ROW - 2 ROW - 3 ROW - 4 ROW - 5

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

3D Model Views

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

3D Model Views

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

3D Model Views

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Land Use

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Vehicular Circulation

Major Routes

Secondary Routes

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Pedestrian Circulation

Major Paths/Sidewalks

Secondary Paths/Sidewalks

Potential Links

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Street Edges

Heavy Edge

Heavy/Broken Edge

Set Back/Broken Edge

Minimal Edge

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston 180’ FOREST 3 0’ 180’ 4 ’ 24 0’ HILLS 0 7 2 1 60’ 2 80 IMPROVEMENT 0’ 200’ 180’ ’ ’ 24 0

7 INITIATIVES 1 200’

Area Block

Patterns

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0

0

2

’ 240

0 ’ 0

2 ’ 0 4 2 ’ 1 240 0 ’ 0 2 ’ ’ 0 0 4 8 1 2 1 10 ’ 1 ’ 00 5 0 ’ 7 2 1 1 10 ’ 00 8 ’ 1 1 10 ’ 0 5 ’ 7 28 1 1 0’ 10 0’

’ 1 0 1 280 00 145 0’ ’ ’ ’ 115 0 5 ’ 0 1 0 1 1 00 145 0’ ’ ’ 115 0 5 0 1

4’ 50 400 ’ 0’ 20

4’ 50 200’ 400 ’ 0’ 20 160’ 1 18 ’ 80’ 0’ ’ 2 0 00 1 180 ’ 2 200’ 165’ CITY OF BOSTON 1 ’ 160’ 18 80 0 ’ 0’ ’ 8 ’ 2 1 0 00 1 Thomas M. Menino, 180 ’ 2

Mayor 165’ ’ 0 8 1 Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Planning Best Practices

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT

East River Riverfront Esplanade Study, New York City, NY This planning and urban design study proposes short-term improvements and long-term CITY OF BOSTON strategies to reconnect Lower Manhattan's diverse communities to a two-mile stretch of Thomas M. Menino, East River waterfront. Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Planning Best Practices

Terraced STREETSCAPE Wide sidewalk with adjacent seating area, Iowa sidewalk IMPROVEMENT Barcelona, Spain Corner Building with enclosed sidewalk, Alexandria, VA

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Planning Best Practices

PLAZAS/SQUARES Paul Revere Park - Small Mall, North End Stockholm Park - Park/Plaza, Sweden

CITY OF BOSTON Westlake Center - Terraced plaza, Seattle WA Thomas M. Menino, Quincy Market – Retail Square, Mayor Downtown Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Planning Best Practices

PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS

Parkman Playground, Jamaica Plain Post Office Square Park, Downtown

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Carter Playground, Sports park South End Boston FOREST Low-Rise Housing HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Multi-family Residential Multi-family Residential ƒ 2 1/2 Story wood Row House Apartment/Condo frame ƒ 2 Story brick ƒ 3 Story wood frame ƒ 3 Story brick ƒ Front porch Building ƒ Front porch ƒ Front yard Types Mid-Rise Housing

Apartment/Condo Row House Apartment/Condo Apartment/Condo ƒ 5 Story brick & Row House/Condo Apartment/Condo ƒ 4 Story brick ƒ 4 Story brick ƒ 6 Story brick ƒ 6 Story brick metal frame ƒ 5 Story brick High-Rise Housing Retail

Apartment/Condo ƒ 7 Story brick Commercial Commercial Apartment/Retail Apartment/Retail ƒ Residential over ƒ Single story brick & ƒ Single story brick ƒ 7 Story brick ƒ 10 Story brick retail wood ƒ Residential over ƒ Residential over retail retail

Mixed Use

CITY OF BOSTON Commercial Commercial Apartment/Condo/Retail Apartment/Retail Apartment/Service Residential/Retail ƒ 4 Story brick Thomas M. Menino, ƒ 5 Story brick ƒ 5 Story brick ƒ 5 Story brick ƒ 5 Story brick ƒ 4 Story brick ƒ Office over retail Mayor ƒ Resident & Office ƒ Office over retail ƒ Residential over retail ƒ Residential over ƒ Residential over over retail community center retail Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Planning Best Practices

TRANSIT- ORIENTATED DEVELOPMENT

Skyline Condominiums/Arborpoint Apartments, Medford, MA Arborpoint Apartments at Station Landing will be part of Station Landing, a 16-acre transit-oriented mixed-use waterfront development located in Medford, Massachusetts. Designed in the spirit of Smart Growth and New Urbanism, Station Landing offers a direct connection to Wellington MBTA Station (Orange Line service to Boston) and quick access to I-93. Station Landing will include residential apartments, retail/restaurant space, and offices. The site is adjacent to a riverfront park and CITY OF BOSTON yacht club on the banks of the Mystic River. Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Planning Best Practices

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT & GREEN BUILDINGS

George Robert White Environmental Artist for Humanity, South Boston Conservation Center, Roxbury

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Green Building for Affordable Housing, Jamaica Plain City Hall Green Roof, Boston Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Planning Best Practices

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Elderly Housing in Jamaica Plain, MA Art Block Artist Housing, South End, MA

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, HOPE VI HOUSING PROJECT, East Boston, MA Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Street

Sections A’ A C C’

B

B’

D

D’

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Street Section A - A’ Sections

Section B - B’

Section C - C’

Section D - D’ CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT Congestion! Global Warming! INITIATIVES

State OCD Transit Oriented Development Policies and Programs

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT Cars are expensive! INITIATIVES

State OCD Transit Oriented Development In 2005, AAA estimated that the Policies and Programs average cost of driving a new passenger car was $702 per month (or $8,431/yr).

Source: AAA Website, www.csaa.com; costs include depreciation,

insurance, fuel.

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS Mix of Uses. Higher Density. IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

State OCD Transit Oriented Development Policies and Programs

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT Mobility Choice. INITIATIVES Pedestrian Oriented Design. State OCD Transit Oriented Development Policies and Programs

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT Reduced Parking Ratios INITIATIVES

State OCD Transit Oriented Development Policies and Programs • Parking is a fertility drug for cars (Shoup).

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT TOD Infrastructure & INITIATIVES Housing Support Program State OCD Transit • Total of $30M authorized to finance Oriented Development housing, parking, and bicycle and Policies and pedestrian facilities within ¼ mile of a Programs transit station.

• Up to $2.5 million per project.

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT Other State TOD Resources INITIATIVES State OCD • Other Funding Transit Oriented – Priority Development Fund Development Policies and – Transit Node Program Programs • Advocacy and Technical Assistance

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS GROUP DISCUSSION TOPICS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES ƒ Emerging Community Vision – 15 minuets Small ƒ Focus Areas – 20 minutes Group Breakout ƒ Specific Study Sites, six – 40 minutes Discussion ƒ Discussion Summary - 15 minutes identify & clarify key comments, ideas & recommendations, prepare for group report

At 8:00 PM – Groups reconvene to report out their recommendations

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

CITY OF BOSTON Thomas M. Menino, Mayor